Bridging the Gender Gap for Development Effectiveness in

the Energy Sector

A Policy and Practitioners MeetDec 12 – 13, 2011

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Energia International Network on Gender and Sustainable Energy

www.wcee.org 2

Networking and Capacity Building

Fostering Professional Developmentof Women Leaders in

Energy and Environment

Women’s Council on Energy and the Environment(WCEE)

www.wcee.org 4

WCEE Quick Facts

• Pronounced as “we see”• Established in 1981• Non-profit organization (i.e., tax-exempt)• Membership organization (i.e., members pay dues)• 900+ members• Located in Washington DC• Host events (i.e., educational and networking

opportunities) on energy and environmental topics• Governed by volunteers; event-planning by volunteers• Joyce Chandran, Executive Director (since Jan. 2010)

www.wcee.org 5

WCEE Mission

Our mission is to provide nonpartisan, policyneutral forums on energy and environmentalissues and to foster the professionaldevelopment of our members. We do this byproviding educational and networkingopportunities in an open, cooperative andsupportive environment.

www.wcee.org 6

WCEE History

Early Days / 1980s• Full-time staff: 0• Handful of female Capitol Hill (US

Congress/Government) energy policy staff

• Informal lunchtime “brown-bags”• Activities/events organized by

members who volunteered time• Irregularly scheduled meetings

2006 Onwards• Full-time staff: 1 to 2• Paid Consultants: accountant;

bookkeeper; website• Pro bono: attorneys (WCEE corporate

members)• Governed by volunteer board of

directors; WCEE board policy• Committee structure (e.g.,

Membership, Marketing & Communications, etc.)

• Activities/events organized by members who volunteer time

• Supported by volunteer advisory council• Physical office (in 2010)• 900+ members (in 2011)

www.wcee.org 7

Governance by WCEE’s Board Members (Executive Committee)

PresidentRonke Luke

e-Management, Inc

SecretaryMary

Brosnan-SellMcLeod,

Watkinson & Miller LLP

Past PresidentChristi Tezak

RW Baird & Co

Executive DirectorJoyce Chandran

WCEE(non-voting member)

TreasurerAlice Grabowski

NetHope

Vice PresidentRobin CantorExponent, Inc

www.wcee.org 8

Governance by WCEE Board Members(Section & Committee Structure) contd.

Executive Committee

MembershipBarbara Tyran EPRI

Special Interest GroupsKathy Alsegaf Deloitte

Development/FundraisingChristi Tezak

RW Baird & Co.

Marketing & Communications

Pat McMurrayQuinn Gillespie &

Associates

Career BuildingJudy Neason Williams

ActivitiesRobin TroutmanUN Foundation

Advisory CouncilJuanita Hardy Tiger

Mgmt

www.wcee.org 9

WCEE’s educational and networking opportunities (events)

• “Brown-bags”• Happy Hours• New Member Breakfasts• Signature Series: Women-in-Leadership;

Opinion-Shapers; Legislative Roundtable• Special Events• Annual Membership Meeting• Annual Woman of the Year Gala

www.wcee.org 10

WCEE’s 2011 Events 2011 WCEE Woman of the Year

Gala Women in Defense Energy

Security Seminar and Reception

WCEE - EPRI - AGA Reception Legislative Roundtable:

Enhancing America's Energy Independence Through Alternative Technologies

Opinion-Shapers Roundtable: Energy and Environment in an Era of Severe Budget Politics

Women-in-Leadership Series:• Wine and Cheese Reception

featuring GSA Administrator Martha Johnson

• Luncheon on Clean Energy and Environmental Sustainability

• Luncheon on Women, Writing,

and Wisdom Happy Hours: 6 New Member Breakfasts: 3

www.wcee.org 11

WCEE’s 2011 Events (contd.)Brown-bags (free to members; $15 to non-members) Oil & Development in Iraq Resilience and Sustainable Development BP Presents a Long Term Outlook for Energy Social Media for Smarties Water Research & Development and Public-Private Partnerships Conversation with Legal Advisors to Three FERC Commissioners The Future of Nuclear Power: Fukushima Daiichi - Where Do We Go From Here? Where is the “Nuclear Renaissance”? The United States, Europe, and Beyond IAEA's Fuel Bank - Lesson in Diplomacy The Dynamics of Central Asian Energy: The Way Forward West Africa: Energy & Environmental Protection Women Creating the Energy and Environment to Succeed!

www.wcee.org 12

Important items to keep in mind(when hosting events)

• Topic: relevance• Speaker: availability, stature, expertise• Schedule: timing, 2-3 events per month• Logistics: venue, catering, registration, thanks• Marketing: word-of-mouth, website, email, The Current (newsletter)• Sponsorship: who, how, quantity, recognition

www.wcee.org 13

WCEE Funding

• Annual membership dues ($40/$65/$90)• Event registrations/attendance fees ($15 to $260)• Donations ($100 to $1,000) • Corporate sponsorships ($250 to $1,000 for a

specific event, e.g., Women-in-Leadership or Opinion-Shapers series)

• Corporate sponsorships ($5,000 and $10,000 specifically for the annual Woman of the Year gala)

www.wcee.org 14

Woman of the Year

• 2010 Maggie L. Fox, President & CEO The Alliance for Climate Protection

• 2011 Constance H. Lau, President & CEOHawaiian Electric Industries

• 2012 Jane Lubchenco, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere

Gala: March 8, 2012 (International Women’s Day)

www.wcee.org 15

Woman of the Year Gala Sponsorships(No. 1 revenue generator)

$5,000 Sustaining Sponsor• Ten (10) tickets (one table) at WCEE's

Woman of the Year Gala dinner• Ten (10) WCEE memberships• Acknowledgement in WCEE’s

newsletter, The Current (in issue immediately after the sponsorship is received)

• Logo and acknowledgment of sponsorship level in Woman of the Year Gala brochure/pamphlet; pre-event publicity; event posters; and projected on event venue video screen

• Logo and acknowledgement of sponsorship level on WCEE website for one (1) year

$10,000 Angel Sponsor• Ten (10) tickets (one table) at WCEE's

Woman of the Year Gala dinner• Twenty (20) WCEE memberships• Acknowledgement in WCEE’s

newsletter, The Current (in issue immediately after the sponsorship is received)

• Logo and acknowledgment of sponsorship level in Woman of the Year Gala brochure/pamphlet; pre-event publicity; event posters; and projected on event venue video screen

• Logo and acknowledgement of sponsorship level on WCEE website for one (1) year

www.wcee.org 16

2011 Sponsors

• AES Corporation• American Wind Energy

Association (AWEA)

• Baker Botts LLP• Bracewell & Giuliani LLP• Booz Allen Hamilton• BP• Constellation Energy• Deloitte

• Dow• Duane Morris LLP• DuPont• Edison Electric Institute• Energetics• Exelon• Exponent• General Dynamics

Information Technology (GDIT)

www.wcee.org 17

2011 Sponsors (contd.)• Global Environment Facility

(GEF/World Bank)• Husch Blackwell LLP• National Association of Regulatory

Commissioners (NARUC)• NCR • Patton Boggs LLP• Pacific Gas & Electric Company

(PG&E)• Pepco• PJM Interconnection• Project Performance Corporation

(PPC)• Quinn Gillespie & Associates

• R.W. Baird and Co.• Schiff Hardin LLP• Schweitzer Engineering

Laboratories• Shell • SNR Denton LLP• Troutman Sanders LLP• United Nations Foundation• US Green Building Council• Van Ness Feldman LLP• Winston & Strawn LLP• Wright & Talisman PC

www.wcee.org 18

Challenges

• Fundraising: Affects growth – limits staff, limits events

• Volunteers’ time:Dictates number of events

• Meeting demand: Interest from outside DC, Maryland and Virginia

www.wcee.org 19

General philosophy you should have when organizing networks

• Share a common purpose• Welcome all• Open to communication• Create learning & networking opportunities• Empower women to participate• Start small, aim big!

www.wcee.org 20

Things to be aware of if re-creating WCEE

• Mission: what is the purpose?• Funding: how will it be sustainable?• Structure: what should it be/look like?• Governance: who will oversee? What kind of

board of directors?• Tax-status: profit or non-profit; country’s laws

www.wcee.org 21

WCEE’s results/outcome of empowering women

• Build self-esteem/confidence: by serving on boards or committees

• Learn skills: diplomacy; event-planning; listening; public speaking; negotiating

• Networking: high-level women executives; peers; thought leaders in energy and/or the environment; policymakers or decision-makers

• Career opportunities: through relationships

www.wcee.org 22

Executive Director – a misnomer

• Administrator• Assistant• Budgeter• Coordinator• Diplomat• Event Planner• Fundraiser• Historian• Implementer• Leader• Liaison

• Marketer• Manager• Reporter• Scheduler• Staff Person • Strategist• Supervisor• Supporter• Web “Mistress”• Writer• Zen Semi-Practitioner

www.wcee.org 23

Things that make my work easier

• Committed board of directors• Physical office (offers stature, storage)• Website template (www.yourmembership.com)• Website consultant (handles difficult tasks)• Bookkeeper (handles monthly financials)• Accountant (handles annual tax preparation)• Pro bono attorneys (oversee vendor contracts)• Detail-oriented and sense of humor

www.wcee.org 24

Thank you!

For more information, contact:Joyce Chandran

Executive Director, WCEEEmail: executive.director@wcee.org

Tel: 202-997-4512www.wcee.org